# Best open-source AI repos for running several coding agents in parallel (2026)

Source: https://dedupedai.com/best-ai-repos-for/running-multiple-coding-agents/ (Deduped, updated 2026-10-26). Markdown twin of the page; JSON: https://dedupedai.com/best-ai-repos-for/running-multiple-coding-agents/index.json

## What is the best open-source tool for running several AI coding agents at once?

The best open-source AI repos for running several coding agents in parallel right now are Orca, Herdr and Squadra. Orca runs several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree; herdr keeps agent terminals alive in the background; Squadra coordinates Claude Code, Codex and Cursor windows with shared tasks.

## Comparison

| Repo | What it does | Best for | Stars | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Orca](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/stablyai-orca/) (stablyai/orca) | Orca is a desktop app, with a mobile companion, for running several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree, and tracking them in one place. | Developers who already use CLI coding agents and want to run several at once without their work colliding. | 102,221 | TypeScript |
| [Herdr](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/herdrdev-herdr/) (herdrdev/herdr) | herdr is a terminal runtime for coding agents. | Developers running several coding agents at once, often over SSH, who lose track of which one is stuck. | 45,730 | Rust |
| [Squadra](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/dagoste-squadra/) (dagoSte/squadra) | Squadra is a free, local, MIT-licensed team toolkit that coordinates Claude Code, Codex and Cursor windows with shared tasks, proofs, reviews and a local dashboard. | Developers who run several AI coding windows on one project and need them to share tasks, hand off work and prove each step. | 250 | Python |
| [Sno Station Skills](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sno-ai-sno-station-skills/) (sno-ai/sno-station-skills) | Sno Station Skills is a set of 31 open source skills that install into Claude Code and Codex so they can review each other's work, hand off tasks when quota runs out, report each morning, delegate with written success checks, and learn from past sessions. | Developers and engineering leads who already run Claude Code or Codex and want the agents to work as a team with review, handoff and proof of done. | 568 | Shell |

## When to pick which

### Orca (stablyai/orca)

Orca is a desktop app, with a mobile companion, for running several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree, and tracking them in one place.

Best for: Developers who already use CLI coding agents and want to run several at once without their work colliding.

Needs: A desktop computer running macOS, Windows, or Linux; A git repository to work in; At least one CLI coding agent (such as Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode) that you already have access to with your own subscription.

Start here: [Compare agent results across parallel worktrees](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/stablyai-orca/compare-agent-results-in-parallel-worktrees/) (Intermediate, 30 minutes)

1. Install Orca with brew install --cask stablyai/orca/orca on macOS, or download a build from https://onorca.dev/download for your system.
2. Open your repository in Orca.
3. Start one agent per worktree, such as Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode, using the same prompt.
4. Review each worktree's changes and compare the results.

All 7 use cases: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/stablyai-orca/ | GitHub: https://github.com/stablyai/orca

### Herdr (herdrdev/herdr)

herdr is a terminal runtime for coding agents. It keeps terminals running in a background server when you close the client or lose SSH, restores layouts after a restart, marks every pane as working, blocked or idle, and puts local and remote machines in one window. It runs the agents you already use (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Grok) without wrapping them, and agents can drive herdr through its CLI and socket API to spawn panes and wait on each other.

Best for: Developers running several coding agents at once, often over SSH, who lose track of which one is stuck.

Needs: macOS or Linux terminal; The coding agents you already use.

Start here: [Run several coding agents and see which one is stuck](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/herdrdev-herdr/run-several-coding-agents-and-see-which-is-stuck/) (Beginner, 10 minutes)

1. Install with curl -fsSL https://herdr.dev/install.sh | sh
2. Start it with herdr
3. Split panes with tmux-style prefix keys or the mouse and start an agent in each
4. Answer whichever pane shows blocked

All 3 use cases: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/herdrdev-herdr/ | GitHub: https://github.com/herdrdev/herdr

### Squadra (dagoSte/squadra)

Squadra is a free, local, MIT-licensed team toolkit that coordinates Claude Code, Codex and Cursor windows with shared tasks, proofs, reviews and a local dashboard.

Best for: Developers who run several AI coding windows on one project and need them to share tasks, hand off work and prove each step.

Needs: Python 3.12 or newer; macOS or another POSIX system; Claude Code, Codex or Cursor installed; A Git repository for the project the squad will work on.

Start here: [Coordinate Claude, Codex and Cursor windows on one project](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/dagoste-squadra/coordinate-ai-coding-windows-on-one-project/) (Intermediate, 30 minutes)

1. Paste this into Claude Code, Codex or Cursor: Install Squadra by following https://github.com/dagoSte/squadra/blob/main/SETUP.md: show me the plan first, wait for my yes, then install it and check that it works.
2. Approve the plan the agent shows, then run /reload-plugins in Claude Code or start a new session in Codex or Cursor.
3. Run squadra start in the project folder to open the squad.
4. Create work with squadra task and check the short summary with squadra brief.

All 4 use cases: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/dagoste-squadra/ | GitHub: https://github.com/dagoSte/squadra

### Sno Station Skills (sno-ai/sno-station-skills)

Sno Station Skills is a set of 31 open source skills that install into Claude Code and Codex so they can review each other's work, hand off tasks when quota runs out, report each morning, delegate with written success checks, and learn from past sessions.

Best for: Developers and engineering leads who already run Claude Code or Codex and want the agents to work as a team with review, handoff and proof of done.

Needs: A shell and curl on the machine; Claude Code or Codex already installed; Optional: both Claude Code and Codex CLIs, so peer review can use the other vendor.

Start here: [Get a cold second review from the other vendor's agent](https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sno-ai-sno-station-skills/cross-vendor-peer-review/) (Intermediate, 30 minutes)

1. Install the skills with sh -c 'sno_installer_body=$(curl -fsSL https://sno.ai/install) && printf "%s\n" "$sno_installer_body" | sh'
2. If you add another agent later, run sno setup to connect it.
3. In your agent, finish a change and say "peer-review this".
4. Read the findings. The author fixes root causes and the review repeats until it is clean.

All 5 use cases: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/sno-ai-sno-station-skills/ | GitHub: https://github.com/sno-ai/sno-station-skills

## Questions

### What is the best open-source tool for running several AI coding agents at once?

The best open-source AI repos for running several coding agents in parallel right now are Orca, Herdr and Squadra. Orca runs several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree; herdr keeps agent terminals alive in the background; Squadra coordinates Claude Code, Codex and Cursor windows with shared tasks.

### Which repo for running several coding agents in parallel is easiest to start with?

Herdr: its starter use case "Run several coding agents and see which one is stuck" is rated Beginner and takes about 10 minutes.

### How do I get started with Orca?

Install Orca with brew install --cask stablyai/orca/orca on macOS, or download a build from https://onorca.dev/download for your system; Open your repository in Orca; Start one agent per worktree, such as Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode, using the same prompt. Full steps and a copy-paste agent prompt: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/stablyai-orca/compare-agent-results-in-parallel-worktrees/

### Are these running several coding agents in parallel repos free?

They are open-source projects on GitHub (check each license; some, like fair-code projects, limit commercial use). Some also sell a hosted version or need a paid model API key; the requirements for each repo are listed on this page.

### How is this list of running several coding agents in parallel repos chosen?

Deduped tracks the hottest AI repos on GitHub and writes step-by-step use cases from each README. For this page we picked the repos that do this job, ordered by fit and then GitHub stars. Repos we only inferred from a short README, or that we do not index, are left out. The page is rebuilt with the site; stars are as of the last build in 2026.

Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-written use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk.
